Friday, January 28, 2011

My Day Job

A small chipmunk drank deeply from the birdbath this morning, then scurried down and ran across the yard with its usual lightning speed. We haven't seen chipmunks much lately, cold as it's been, but today promises to be beautiful, and our furry friend most likely has a long list of outside jobs to catch up on. The entrance to its den is just outside my studio window, and a couple of times, I've been able to see young chipmunks when they first emerged from the den. They would come out part way, hesitantly, squinting toward the light, and look around, then duck back inside, only to emerge a few minutes later with the courage to come a little farther. After repeating this process several times, 3 of them appeared together and stumbled over each other, and over the rocks outside my window. People sometimes ask me where I get the inspiration for my cards. Being able to see those small chipmunks was ample inspiration.

First, I took some photos,

then, did some sketches,

then I painted a little scene and did the lettering,

which became a greeting card.

I've recently opened a Zazzle store, selling some of my art and photos on the internet, and this image is there on a friendship card, a Valentine card, and a mug. If you'd like to check it out, the link is above.

1 comment:

If that isn't the sweetest painting! Thank you for sharing with the world how you find inspiration--this will surely inspire some of the rest of us to look a little more closely, to see what really is out there

For me, life is fairly simple: love God, love your neighbor, do your art. As a Christian, my first priority is loving God,

and I believe a part of loving Him is being grateful for what He’s given us. Here in the Ozarks, we have much to appreciate and enjoy. And so this blog attempts to do a little of this: appreciate God’s wonders, and share them with you, my neighbors.

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About Me

Connie is an illustrator and photographer who lives in the Missouri Ozarks, USA. She and her husband Don love their life together in their country home in the Ozarks, where artistic and photographic opportunities are ample, and their dog is way above average. Connie's portfolio can be viewed online at conniesmiley.com.